The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
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WATERWAYS – Waterfront Business In brief… Ship owners fined for spill Swire Navigation and Bluewind Shipping were each fined $600,000 on October 14 for their part in the Pacific Adventurer oil spill off Cape Moreton, in March 2009. The two companies were the registered owners of the 23.737dwt general cargo ship. She was on her way from Newcastle to Indonesia when she struck the remnants of Cyclone Hamish while off southeastern Queensland. Thirty-one containers of ammonium nitrate fertiliser fell from the deck in the rough seas, rupturing a fuel tank and spilling about 270 tonnes of heavy oil. Some of the oil washed up on beaches along the coast. The containers were not recovered. The case was heard in the District Court in Brisbane before Judge Kiernan Dorney QC. He found while the spill was "very serious" it could not be determined to be in the "worst" category. The owners did not have to pay a donation to an environmental group because they had contributed A$7.5 million toward cleaning up the spill. Superyacht fleet will make a super sight The giant 48.5m sloop Georgia will be among the fleet of superyachts expected to provide some spectacular sights when they compete in the New Zealand Marine Millennium Cup in the Hauraki Gulf next February. The chairman of the cup committee, Stuart Robinson, said on October 17 that five owners had signed up and there was strong interest from a "significant" number of others. The other confirmed entries are the 31m Pacific Eagle, the 39.6m Janice of Wyoming, the 44m Imagine and the 33.8m Silvertip, the current holder of the Millennium Cup. The festivities begin on February 16 when the motoryachts will set off for a rally around Waiheke Island. The sailing yachts will start a little later for their race around the Waitemata Harbour. On the next day the fleet will race up the coast to Kawau Island for a barbecue then back to Auckland for the prizegiving and a farewell celebration. "The Millennium Cup is a great opportunity for the New Zealand marine industry to showcase its talent, especially in the export-driven superyacht new build and refit sectors," says Robinson. First held during Team's New Zealand's successful defence of the America's Cup, the Millennium Cup will now be held annually. The gold sponsors are Alloy Yachts and Integrated Marine Group. 44 Professional Skipper January/February 2012 Kermadec proposal wins approval FOREST & BIRD and the World Wildlife Fund say they support a Labour Party proposal to extend the marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands, northeast of New Zealand, from the existing 12 miles to 200 miles, an area of 620,000sq km. "It has a wonderful mix of tropical and temperate animals and includes migratory whales, sharks, tuna and swordfish," say F&B advocate Karen Baird said. "Up to 15 million seabirds live in the region, including albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters." The proposed extension would include the extreme depths of the Kermadec Trench, the second-deepest place on the planet, and a significant part of the volcanically active Kermadec Arc, with its 50 submarine volcanoes and unique life forms. TOURISM LEADER CHANGES TACK REAL JOURNEYS' CHIEF executive Dave Hawkey is leaving after 10 years, which included numerous significant achievements, to focus on his family, who are based in Christchurch. "It's time for me to go where I'm needed, and that's helping my family repair our home and recover from a devastating and very stressful year. "I'm proud of the contribution I've made to the growth of the company and to regional tourism as a whole. The industry is facing challenging times and the time is right for new leadership to move the company into the future." During the past decade, Real Journeys has expanded from its Fiordland/ Queenstown base to include operations at Lyttelton, Akaroa and Stewart Island. It had more than 650,000 customers last year. "The fact that we operate in New Zealand's most iconic landscapes is part of our success, but what really differentiates us in the market is our people. The feedback I receive about our staff is amazing," Hawkey said. Bill Baylis, the chairman of Real Journeys, says Hawkey had made a significant contribution to the company. "We totally understand his reasons for leaving. Drowned trio spurned lifejackets TWO BROTHERS WHO drowned off Port Waikato during Labour Weekend never wore lifejackets or took safety precautions when they were fishing, according to a family member. Makamapuhia and Aisea Tatafu were swept away while they were tending their nets with another relative, Hopapi Pepa. Surf lifesavers pulled Pepa from the water but could not revive him. Other family members watched the trio as they fished. "Usually they go out fishing without proper safety equipment," said a niece, Sesilia Tonga. They also wore heavy clothing. The men were fishing for flounder in an outgoing tide at Karioitahi Beach, near the dangerous rips and currents at the mouth of the Waikato River. "Every summer we see drowning incidents where people are wearing inappropriate clothing without safety equipment such as lifejackets," said Andy Kent of Surf Life Saving New Zealand. "Many are unaware of hazardous surf conditions and rips."